Rishabh Pant: India wicketkeeper given demerit point by ICC for dissent towards umpires

India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has been handed a demerit point after he admitted showing dissent towards the umpires during the first Test with England.

Pant, 27, was deemed to have committed a level one offence by the International Cricket Council (ICC) under article 2.8 of its code of conduct., external

The incident occurred in the 61st over of England’s first innings on day three of the Test at Headingley, when Harry Brook and Ben Stokes were batting.

Pant was seen having a discussion with on-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney in relation to the condition of the match ball.

When the umpires refused to change the ball after they had checked it with the ball gauge, Pant reacted by throwing the ball on the ground in front of them.

Because Pant admitted the offence, and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Richie Richardson, he was not required to attend a formal hearing.

An ICC statement said: “One demerit point has been added to Pant’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.”

When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a two-year time frame, the points are converted into suspension points and a player is banned.

Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is.

Left-hander Pant has played a key role for India during the match in Leeds.

He became only the second batter to make hundreds in each innings in a Test at Headingley and the second wicketkeeper to do so anywhere.